| From the Richmond Examiner |
| |
| November 19, 1861 |
| |
| The Troubles in Tennessee -- The Burning of
the Bridges |
| The Knoxville Register
of last Tuesday gives the following account of the bridge burnings in
Tennessee by organized bands of traitors: |
| The deep-laid scheme to
destroy the railroads in East Tennessee on Friday night last, by an
organization of Lincolnite traitors, extending from Bristol to the
Georgia line, resulted in the burning of the following bridges: |
| The bridge over the Hiwassee
river, at Charleston, on the East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad. |
| The bridge over Lick creek, on
the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad. |
| The bridge over the Holston
river, at Union, on the East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad. |
| Two small bridges on
Chickamauga creek, on the Western & Atlantic Railroad. |
| The telegraph wires were cut
at various places between Knoxville and Chattanooga, and Knoxville and
Bristol. |
| No attempt seems to have been
made upon the bridge at Loudon, that being well guarded by a cavalry
company. |
| The attempt to burn the bridge
at Strawberry Plains was unsuccessful, and its preservation is due to
the courageous conduct of the watchman. |
| We learn that his name is
James Keelan, and are glad to hear from persons who came down yesterday,
that notwithstanding his severe injuries, there is strong hope of his
recovery. It is known that the man whom he shot in the act of applying
the torch to the bridge was William Pickens, son of the late State
Senator from Greene, Cocke, Sevier and Blount counties, who was carried
by his fellow-conspirators to Sevier county, and is reported to have
died yesterday. Another man was also wounded by Mr. Keelan, whose
fidelity and courage, as well as the injuries he has suffered, have
gained him the admiration and sympathy of the whole country. |
| The Lick creek bridge was
guarded by several soldiers attached to Captain McLinn's company,
encamped near Midway. They were approached by a gang of ruffians, who
first engaged them in friendly conversation and then suddenly attacked
and overpowered them, and executed their hellish incendiarism. They
carried the captured sentinels, we are told, to a house at some
distance, and, after forcing them to take an oath to support the Lincoln
Government, released them. They hurried to their camp and gave such
information as led to the immediate arrest of six of the incendiaries,
who were yesterday brought to this city, and safely lodged in jail. We
learn that they have made confessions which will probably lead to the
capture of all engaged in this extensive conspiracy. |
| This diabolical plot does not
seem to have been participated in by the great body of the East
Tennessee Union men, but seems to have been confined to a number of
desperate and reckless traitors, who confidently believed that before
they could be brought to justice, the Lincoln forces from Kentucky would
have forced their way through the mountains to their rescue. They have
again experienced how little dependence is to be placed upon the boasts
and promises of Maynard and Johnson. |
| The cowards who were reported
to be approaching Jamestown and Big Creek Gap, have retreated back into
Kentucky, to escape from Hardee and his brave forces, leaving their
duped and misguided co-labourers here to their merited fate. There is no
earthly probability that any of Lincoln's troops will ever be able to
force their way into East Tennessee, and all such attempts as the late
incendiary one must only result in bringing a terrible retribution upon
the heads of the foolish perpetrators |
| Large reinforcements are now
on the way to this point, both from the East and the West, and such
guards will, no doubt, be placed along the railroad route as will be
effectual to frustrate any similar attempts in future. |
| News having been received of
the bridge burning at Jacksborough, Colonel Powell's Regiment was
immediately ordered by General Zollicoffer to this place, and arrived
here yesterday morning. Several companies of this regiment will start
this morning for various points along the road. |
| It is rumoured that large
numbers of Union men are arming and mustering in Blount and Sevier
counties, for the purpose of protecting the incendiaries who attempted
to fire the Strawberry Plains bridge, all of whom, numbering some
sixteen, were from Sevier county. |
| We have rumours also of the
uprising of about fifteen hundred Lincolnites in Brady and Hamilton
counties. They are rushing upon their own destruction. |
| Six of the incendiaries who
burnt the bridge over Lick creek, and who were captured by Captain
McLinn's cavalry, were brought to Knoxville, on a special train,
yesterday afternoon. The names of five of them are, Looney McDaniel, ---
Hann and three brothers Harman. They were marched, bound, through the
streets, followed by a large crowd, to the city jail, to await an
examination before the Confederate States Commissioner, which will
probably take place today. |
| McDaniel is one of the
Lincolnites who was arrested and brought before the Confederate Court in
September last, and who, after being released, voluntarily took the oath
to support the Southern Confederacy. |
| ***** |